Re: Dim sum and other Cantonese food
 

I think you should also mention Xinjiang cuisine, as it it everywhere in China and delicious. Also, I really dont think northern chinese food is similar to western food.

Re: Dim sum and other Cantonese food
 

Me <3 turnip cakes, wrapped tofu skin, sticky rice, and sesame balls. Stuffed fried crab claws are delicious when light and crispy, terrible most of the time.

The west coast destroys the east coast wrt to dim sum.

Re: Dim sum and other Cantonese food
 

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Me <3 turnip cakes, wrapped tofu skin, sticky rice, and sesame balls. Stuffed fried crab claws are delicious when light and crispy, terrible most of the time.

The west coast destroys the east coast wrt to dim sum.

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I haven't lived on the East Coast for some time, but this has got to be true. I just got back from a trip stopped by in Taipei and Hong Kong, and Dim Sum places in San Gabriel Valley (I live in LA) are just as good.

My favorite Chinese dumpling is Xiao Long Bao, or Soup Dumplings. I think it's not a traditional Dim Sum item and I don't see it everywhere (it's a Shanghainese dumpling, not Cantonese) but it is awesome.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi..._dumplings.jpg

-Al

Re: Dim sum and other Cantonese food
 

may may gourmet

pickup a box of roasted char siu bau and freeze it. take to work and pop it in the microwave for a delicious afternoon snack.

Re: Dim sum and other Cantonese food
 

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But I'd be even more interested in which of the things you think are really great that don't come on the dumpling carts - all of the "special" items. I've had mixed experiences with those, some are great while others are pretty bad.

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Hmm...I'm not sure what you're referring to here. My family and I never really order anything that isn't offered on the carts and my mom and grandfather are HK born traditional Chinese. What have you ordered that wasn't on the carts?

I know regular Americanized Chinese restaurants will often have dishes on the Chinese menu that don't appear on the English menu, but I don't think it works that way for dim sum.

Re: Dim sum and other Cantonese food
 

splash,

Bad writing on my part. I didn't mean not on the carts, I meant not on the carts w/ just dumplings. Mainly I was just asking for recommendations for stuff other than dumpings/buns.

Things like "Cheung Fun (shrimp or beef inside, rice noodle outside)" or "bean curd on the outside and pork/mushroom on the inside."

Re: Dim sum and other Cantonese food
 

if you're askign about grabbing things that waiters walk around with that are not steamed go with these:

-- char siu sau(like "sew")
-- fried taro
-- chix/scallion dumpling

Re: Dim sum and other Cantonese food
 

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And just for fun:
Fung Jao (chicken feet)
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/38/98...6350a60e94.jpg

Don't feel bad if you don't like it. I know plenty of Hong Kong born people who don't. I think it's ok. Basically you just eat the skin, spit out the bones.

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My favorite. Friends always freak out when I order it. The fried turnips come in at a close second.

Re: Dim sum and other Cantonese food
 

Al, Funny enough, I think Xiao Long Bao are better in NY than in CA.

Re: Dim sum and other Cantonese food
 

Daver - huh, this just tells me you have to get out to LA more often! (Although, IIRC the Xiao Long Bao at Joe's Shanghai is really good.)

Oh, and as a slight aside... the Din Tai Fung in San Gabriel Valley (often noted as the best soup dumpling in LA area) is a bit overrated and I think not worth the weekend wait. The one in Taipei is ridiculously good though.

-Al